The Life Cycle of a Flowering Plant - Worksheet | Science Year 3 - Free Printable

Let's solve this "The Life Cycle of a Flowering Plant Worksheet" step by step.

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🔍 Objective:

Match the five pictures (drawings) with the correct descriptive sentences in the correct order of the life cycle of a flowering plant.

We are given:
- 5 images showing different stages.
- 5 text boxes describing each stage.
- We need to match them and place them in the correct sequence.

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🌱 Step 1: Understand the Life Cycle Stages

The typical life cycle of a flowering plant includes these stages:

1. Seed is planted in soil
2. Seed germinates → sprout emerges
3. Sprout grows into a young plant (with leaves, roots, stem)
4. Plant matures and produces flower
5. Flower is pollinated → seeds form → seeds are scattered

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🖼️ Analyze Each Picture (Left to Right)

Let’s label the images from left to right as Image 1 to Image 5.

#### Image 1:
- Shows a young plant with small leaves and roots.
- A small bud is forming at the top.
- This is after germination, but before flowering.
- Stage: Young plant growing.

#### Image 2:
- Shows a fully grown plant with a flower open.
- Roots, stem, leaves, and a blooming flower.
- Stage: Mature plant with flower.

#### Image 3:
- Shows a seed underground.
- Nothing has grown yet.
- Stage: Seed planted in soil.

#### Image 4:
- Shows a sprout emerging from the ground.
- Small shoot above ground, root below.
- Stage: Germination — sprouting.

#### Image 5:
- Shows a seed on the ground.
- No plant visible.
- But note: This one likely represents seed dispersal — after the flower has formed seeds and they have fallen.

Wait! Let's double-check:
- The last image shows a seed on the surface — not in the soil.
- So it’s after the plant has produced seeds and they’ve been dispersed.

But wait — Image 3 shows a seed *in* the soil, and Image 5 shows a seed *on* the ground. That suggests:
- Image 3 = Seed planted
- Image 5 = Seeds scattered (dispersed)

So we now have:

| Image | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| 3 | Seed planted in soil |
| 4 | Seed germinating → sprout |
| 1 | Young plant growing |
| 2 | Mature plant with flower |
| 5 | Seeds scattered |

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✔ Now Match the Text Boxes

Let’s read the descriptions and match them:

1. "A seed is planted in the soil."
→ Matches Image 3 (seed in soil)

2. "The seed begins to germinate and grows into a sprout."
→ Matches Image 4 (sprout just emerging)

3. "Roots and stem continue to grow. The stem pushes its way to the surface. Leaves unfold and the flower bud forms and opens."
→ This describes growth from sprout to mature plant with flower.
→ Matches Image 1 (young plant with bud) and leads to Image 2
But since only one image can go here, and this sentence says “flower bud forms and opens”, it fits best with Image 2? Wait — let's see.

Actually, let's look again.

- Image 1: Has a bud forming — so maybe this is when the bud starts.
- Image 2: The flower is open.

So the sentence:
> "Roots and stem continue to grow. The stem pushes its way to the surface. Leaves unfold and the flower bud forms and opens."

This covers multiple stages — from sprout to flowering. But since the image must be matched, we need to pick which image best matches this description.

It says "the flower bud forms and opens" — so the flower is open. Therefore, this should go with Image 2.

But Image 1 shows a bud forming — not yet open.

So:
- Image 1 → "Roots and stem continue to grow..." might be better for Image 1, but it says "flower bud forms and opens" — that implies the flower is open.

Hmm.

Wait — perhaps the sentence is meant for Image 2, because the flower is open.

But then what about Image 1?

Let’s reevaluate.

Let’s list the sentences again:

1. "A seed is planted in the soil." → Image 3
2. "The seed begins to germinate and grows into a sprout." → Image 4
3. "Roots and stem continue to grow. The stem pushes its way to the surface. Leaves unfold and the flower bud forms and opens." → This seems to describe Image 1 and Image 2 together. But if we have to assign one image, it probably fits Image 2, because the flower is open.

But Image 1 shows a bud forming, not open.

Wait — Image 1 has a small black dot at the top — could that be a budding flower?

Yes — it looks like a flower bud is forming.

But Image 2 has a fully open flower.

So:
- Image 1: Bud forming → part of the process
- Image 2: Flower open → full bloom

So the sentence:
> "Roots and stem continue to grow... flower bud forms and opens"

— this spans both Image 1 and Image 2, but since it ends with "opens", it should go with Image 2.

Then what about Image 1?

Wait — perhaps the sentence "Roots and stem continue to grow..." refers to Image 1, because it shows the plant growing, but the flower hasn't opened yet.

But the sentence says "and the flower bud forms and opens" — so it includes opening.

So unless the flower is open in Image 1, it doesn’t fit.

But in Image 1, the flower is still a bud.

In Image 2, it's open.

So the sentence must go with Image 2.

Therefore, Image 1 must be matched with another sentence.

But the other sentences are:

- "A seed is planted..." → Image 3
- "The seed begins to germinate..." → Image 4
- "Once the flower has opened, insects and the wind pollinate..." → This is after the flower opens → so Image 2
- "Seeds are scattered..." → Image 5

Wait — there are 5 sentences, and 5 images.

Let’s list all five sentences:

1. "A seed is planted in the soil." → Image 3
2. "The seed begins to germinate and grows into a sprout." → Image 4
3. "Roots and stem continue to grow. The stem pushes its way to the surface. Leaves unfold and the flower bud forms and opens." → This describes growth to flowering → Image 2 (since flower is open)
4. "Once the flower has opened, insects and the wind pollinate the flower which allows seeds to be formed." → After flowering → Image 2 or Image 5?
But Image 5 is seeds on ground — so after pollination and seed formation.

5. "Seeds are scattered on the ground and the life cycle begins again..." → Image 5

But we have only one sentence per image.

So let’s assign carefully.

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✔ Final Matching (Correct Order):

We need to arrange the images in order and match each with the correct sentence.

Correct Sequence of Events:

1. Seed planted → Image 3
2. Germination → sprout → Image 4
3. Plant grows → bud forms → Image 1
4. Flower opens → Image 2
5. Pollination → seeds formed → seeds scattered → Image 5

But the sentence about pollination comes after the flower opens.

So:

- Image 2 (flower open) → Sentence: "Once the flower has opened, insects and the wind pollinate..."
- Image 5 (seeds on ground) → "Seeds are scattered..."

Now, what about the sentence:
> "Roots and stem continue to grow. The stem pushes its way to the surface. Leaves unfold and the flower bud forms and opens."

This describes the growth phase — from sprout to flowering.

But it says "forms and opens" — so it includes both bud forming and opening.

So this sentence should go with Image 1 (bud forming) or Image 2 (open)?

But Image 1 shows a bud, not open.

Image 2 shows open flower.

So the sentence "Roots and stem continue to grow... and the flower bud forms and opens" — this is best matched with Image 2, because it ends with "opens".

But then what about Image 1?

There’s no sentence that says "bud forms" alone.

Wait — perhaps the sentence about roots and stem growing is meant for Image 1, and the "forms and opens" is misleading?

But the sentence says "forms and opens", so it must include both.

Alternatively, maybe the sentence is intended for Image 1, and the flower is considered "opening" even if not fully open?

But visually, Image 2 clearly shows an open flower.

Let’s check the sentences again:

Here are the five sentences:

1. A seed is planted in the soil. → Image 3
2. The seed begins to germinate and grows into a sprout. → Image 4
3. Roots and stem continue to grow. The stem pushes its way to the surface. Leaves unfold and the flower bud forms and opens. → This must go with Image 2 (because flower is open)
4. Once the flower has opened, insects and the wind pollinate the flower which allows seeds to be formed. → This happens after the flower opens → so also Image 2? But can't have two sentences for one image.

Ah! Problem: Only one sentence per image.

So we need to assign each sentence to one image, and the sequence must be correct.

Let’s list the correct order of events:

1. Seed planted → Image 3
2. Germination → sprout → Image 4
3. Plant grows → leaves, stem, bud → Image 1
4. Flower opens → Image 2
5. Pollination → seeds → seeds scattered → Image 5

Now assign sentences:

- Image 3 → "A seed is planted in the soil." ✔
- Image 4 → "The seed begins to germinate and grows into a sprout." ✔
- Image 1 → ???
- Image 2 → ???
- Image 5 → "Seeds are scattered on the ground and the life cycle begins again..." ✔

Remaining sentences:

- "Roots and stem continue to grow. The stem pushes its way to the surface. Leaves unfold and the flower bud forms and opens."
- "Once the flower has opened, insects and the wind pollinate the flower which allows seeds to be formed."

Now:

- Image 1 shows a plant with leaves and a bud forming → so this sentence fits Image 1? But it says "forms and opens" — the flower is not open in Image 1.

But maybe it's acceptable — the sentence is describing the process up to opening.

But Image 2 shows the open flower, so the sentence "Once the flower has opened..." fits Image 2.

So:

- Image 1 → "Roots and stem continue to grow... flower bud forms and opens" → but not fully open, so maybe not perfect.

But Image 2 has the open flower, so the sentence about pollination must go with Image 2.

So:

- Image 2 → "Once the flower has opened, insects and the wind pollinate..." ✔
- Then Image 5 → "Seeds are scattered..." ✔

Then what about the sentence: "Roots and stem continue to grow... and the flower bud forms and opens"?

That must go with Image 1, even though the flower isn't fully open — maybe the drawing is meant to show the beginning of opening?

But looking at Image 1, the "flower" is just a dot — not open.

Image 2 has a fully open flower.

So the only logical assignment is:

- Image 1 → "Roots and stem continue to grow. The stem pushes its way to the surface. Leaves unfold and the flower bud forms and opens."
→ Even though the flower isn't open, this sentence describes the growth leading to flowering, and the bud is forming.

But it says "and opens" — so it implies the flower has opened.

So this sentence should go with Image 2.

But then Image 2 would have two sentences?

No — only one per image.

So perhaps the sentence about "roots and stem growing" is meant for Image 1, and the "forms and opens" is a mistake?

Alternatively, maybe the "flower bud forms and opens" is meant to be interpreted as "forms and begins to open".

But that’s not accurate.

Wait — perhaps the order of the images is not left to right?

No — the worksheet says to match each stage to the picture and place them in the correct order.

So we must rearrange the images in the correct sequence.

But the images are shown in a row — we need to cut them out and reorder them.

So the correct order of images is:

1. Image 3 – Seed in soil
2. Image 4 – Sprout emerging
3. Image 1 – Young plant with bud
4. Image 2 – Flower open
5. Image 5 – Seeds scattered

Now assign sentences:

- Image 3 → "A seed is planted in the soil." ✔
- Image 4 → "The seed begins to germinate and grows into a sprout." ✔
- Image 1 → "Roots and stem continue to grow. The stem pushes its way to the surface. Leaves unfold and the flower bud forms and opens."
→ This is close, but the flower is not open. However, this is the only sentence that describes plant growth and bud formation. So it's the best fit.
(Note: The sentence may be slightly inaccurate — it says "opens", but the image shows a bud. Perhaps the drawing is meant to show the start of opening.)

- Image 2 → "Once the flower has opened, insects and the wind pollinate the flower which allows seeds to be formed." ✔
→ This happens after the flower opens.

- Image 5 → "Seeds are scattered on the ground and the life cycle begins again..." ✔

So final matching:

| Image | Stage | Sentence |
|-------|-------|----------|
| 3 | Seed planted | A seed is planted in the soil. |
| 4 | Germination → sprout | The seed begins to germinate and grows into a sprout. |
| 1 | Growth → bud forms | Roots and stem continue to grow. The stem pushes its way to the surface. Leaves unfold and the flower bud forms and opens. |
| 2 | Flower open & pollination | Once the flower has opened, insects and the wind pollinate the flower which allows seeds to be formed. |
| 5 | Seed dispersal | Seeds are scattered on the ground and the life cycle begins again... |

Even though the sentence for Image 1 says "opens", and the flower isn't open, it's the only sentence that fits the growth phase.

Alternatively, perhaps the sentence about "roots and stem growing" is meant to be split, but we have to use what's given.

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✔ Final Answer:

Correct Order of Images (left to right):

1. Image 3 – Seed in soil
2. Image 4 – Sprout
3. Image 1 – Young plant with bud
4. Image 2 – Flower open
5. Image 5 – Seeds scattered

Matching Sentences:

- Image 3 → "A seed is planted in the soil."
- Image 4 → "The seed begins to germinate and grows into a sprout."
- Image 1 → "Roots and stem continue to grow. The stem pushes its way to the surface. Leaves unfold and the flower bud forms and opens."
- Image 2 → "Once the flower has opened, insects and the wind pollinate the flower which allows seeds to be formed."
- Image 5 → "Seeds are scattered on the ground and the life cycle begins again..."

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📝 Summary:

The life cycle of a flowering plant in order is:

1. Seed planted
2. Germination → sprout
3. Growth → leaves, stem, bud
4. Flower opens → pollination
5. Seeds formed → scattered

This worksheet teaches students to sequence the stages and understand how each stage leads to the next.

✔ Answer completed.